Dear Hecate:
I just wanted to thank you for advising us to add a "revenue message" as we lobbied our state legislators for our budget line item this winter. The best part was going in with some of our allies who were lobbying their related budget line item and being able to say -- "We are tired of competing with each other for limited resources and asking you to make "tough choices" between us. We know there is a revenue shortfall and we know you and your colleagues will have to find some new revuenues to be able to keep our programs going and we know that may mean additional taxes. We are asking you is to work with your colleagues to make sure that those taxes are fair, adequate and a stable source of income to pay for the kind of government we want. Every single one of the people we talked to said it was about time they heard this message, and wished more advocates were saying the same thing.
Not afraid to talk Taxes
Dear Not Afraid,
You are very welcome. Nice to know it's working. Now all we have to do is get more people on this little straight talk express.
Who is Hecate?
Hecate is a Greek Goddess who served as a guide and coach at the crossroads of Hades, where after crossing the River Styx, Greek souls found themselves facing three choices: the Elysian Fields, abode of the great and heroic; the Fields of Asphodel, for all who had led a blameless but ordinary life; or to Tartarus, a sunless land of punishment for criminals.
Hecate's best known role in Greek mythology was guiding Persephone, the goddess of spring, on her annual journeys between Hades and Earth. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hecate is portrayed as a nurturing and protective guide for Persephone on those annual journeys.
